Concomitant infection with Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient: A rare association

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae , a microorganism that usually affects skin and nerves. Although it is well-controlled by multidrug therapy but the disease may be aggravated by acute inflammatory reaction that causes permanent tissue damage, particularly to peripheral nerves. Cutaneous tuberculosis (CT) is a variant of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Both mycobacterial infections are endemic in developing countries like India, but the simultaneous occurrence of CT and leprosy is very rarely reported. Here, we are reporting a case of borderline lepromatous leprosy and CT (lupus vulgaris) co-infection in an immunocompetent patient, diagnosed simultaneously and managed accordingly.